Saturday 20th October
Terrill Nordstrom and myself birded on the south
coast in extremely windy conditions and managed to see some very good
birds.
Our first stop was Lake Wollumboola, Culburra. At
the moment the lake is rather full with little exposed mud and low numbers of
waders. 3 Pied Oystercatchers, 1 Great Knot. 1 Ruddy Turnstone. 1
Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Greenshank, Sharp-tailed Sandpipers and
Red-necked Stints. There were no Little Terns but they should
arrive within the next couple of weeks.
At Windang there were 19 Little
Terns in non-breeding plumage,
A quick visit to Shoalhaven Heads produced an
Osprey with my first observation of this species actually
catching a fish. I think it has been quite some time since this species has been
sighted here. The only other location on the south coast where they can be found
that I know of is Lake Conjola.
While carrying out a monthly bird survey at
Sandon Point, Bulli, an Australasian Bittern was seen, a new
bird for me. We flushed this bird only metres from us and because of the wind it
was slow in flight giving great views. I didn't realise that they were so
large. This is just inside the County of Cumberland. Also Grey
Goshawk, Lewins Rail and a Whimbrel
PS Grey Toilet Thrushes, beware of the Barren
Grounds Bristleheads.
Darryl McKay
Bankstown
|